Diversity and use of wild and non-cultivated edible plants in the Western Himalaya

Bibliographic Data

ID4724834
AuthorsKamal Prasad Aryal, Kamal Aryal (0000-0001-6154-8844, International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, corresponding author), Sushmita Poudel (0000-0002-2261-8835, Chitwan Medical College), Ram Prasad Chaudhary (0000-0002-1839-0727, Tribhuvan University), Nakul Chettri (0000-0002-3338-8879, International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development), Pashupati Chaudhary (0000-0003-3475-2924, Agriculture and Forestry University), Wu Ning (0009-0003-6577-1412, International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development), Rajan Kotru (0000-0001-9731-9648, International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development)
Year2018
Volume14
Issue1
Pages10-10
Publication date2018-12-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1746-4269 • E-ISSN: 1746-4269
PublisherSpringer Science and Business Media LLC (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1186/s13002-018-0211-1
PMID29378614
OpenAlexW2798087831
LanguageEN
Citations received34
References cited42

BACKGROUND: Local people in the Himalayan region use a wide range of wild and non-cultivated edible plants (WNEPs) for food, spice, medicinal, and cultural purposes. However, their availability, use, status and contribution to livelihood security are poorly documented, and they have been generally overlooked in recent agro-biodiversity conservation and management programmes. The study aimed to investigate WNEP diversity and current status in a part of the Kailash Sacred Landscape-a transboundary landscape shared by Nepal, India and PR China-in terms of collection, use, management and conservation initiatives. METHODS: Multiple methodologies and tools were used for data collection. A series of participatory tools (45 key informant interviews, 10 focus group discussions, a crop diversity fair, direct observation of species through a transect walk and rapid market assessments) was followed by a household survey (195 respondents) and complemented by a literature review. RESULTS: The study recorded 99 WNEPs belonging to 59 families of which 96 were angiosperms, one gymnosperm and two pteridophytes. Species were used for food, spice, medicine, rituals and income generation. Thirty-five species had multiple uses, including these: 40 species were used for fruit and 31 for vegetables. WNEPs contribute significantly to daily food requirements, especially the vegetables. The use value of Dryopteris cochleata was found highest (0.98) among frequently used vegetable species. The values of informant consensus factor were found maximum for worms in the stomach (0.99) and minimum for skin disease treatment (0.67). Nearly 85% of households depended exclusively on WNEPs for at least more than a month per year. Results on the importance and use of different species, gender roles in WNEP activities and conservation approaches are presented. CONCLUSIONS: People living in the Kailash Sacred Landscape depend significantly on WNEPs, and this is especially critical in times of food shortage. The WNEPs have considerable potential as an important supplement to cultivated food crops. Farmers prioritise species with multiple use values and popular vegetables. However, there are numerous challenges and interventions needed to ensure conservation and management of species and their continued availability to support food security and local livelihoods

Agriculture · Agroforestry · Biodiversity · Biology · Diversity (politics · Ethnobotany · Food security · Forest gardening · Geography · In situ conservation · Livelihood · Medicinal plants · Participatory rural appraisal · Socioeconomics · Transect · African Botany and Ecology Studies · Essential Oils and Antimicrobial Activity · Ethnobotanical and Medicinal Plants Studies · Insect Utilization and Effects · Phytochemistry Medicinal Plant Applications · Ecology

Tools

Open DOISci-HubOpen Access